I write to you, again, on the eve of your decision on whether or not to bomb Syria. I understand that this is not a decision anyone is taking lightly and that you will be receiving pressure from all sides.

There are many reasons why I could ask, beg, you not to bomb Syria. I could say there is no clear long term strategy, and violence incites violence, or argue that our past success rate in similar campaigns is poor (Libya to name but one). I could ask whether bombing in response to bombing is just a form of ‘justified terrorism’, especially given the scores of civilians killed as ‘collateral damage’ (something unavoidable as militants purposely mingle with civilians), and note that killing a guilty person, however abhorrent, is just the death penalty without a trial – something we in the UK would vehemently oppose elsewhere. Would we bomb a UK city if we thought a suspected terrorist lived there? I think not. And what about the billions of pounds worth it would cost us, aside from the human lives?

Others have already made these arguments here and here*. Instead, I want to highlight our alternatives. Here I ask you and your government to consider pouring our limited resources (remember the deficit you frequently mention?) into these methods instead to prevent violent extremism.

First, we need extensive research. Over 800 British people have left the UK to travel to Syria but we know very little about who we are fighting or what their motivations are. Recent attacks have been attributed to an extreme interpretation of Islam, but evidence suggests that most of those recruited are only weakly religious. So what does ISIS have that seems so attractive to some? We really know very little. If you want to stop ISIS, we must know how they function as an organisation but more than that, we need to understand the individuals who make up the organisation. What persuades them to join? What are factors pushing them from the UK and pulling them towards ISIS? As with all problems, if you understand it then you know how best to tackle it.

Next, preventative measures. If we know why 800 Brits have flown overseas, we can use this knowledge to stop ISIS growing. It is common practise amongst cult recruiters to target individuals who are going through a period of change as this is when someone is most likely to change their beliefs. Indeed, there is some evidence already that Islamic State recruiters are no different. How do we stop this? If recruiter success lies in exploiting vulnerability and exclusion, we ensure our citizens are not neglected. Instead of targeting these people with bombs, we promote inclusion, unity and equality. We educate against radicalisation and fund projects such as this one in Palestine which, unlike bombing campaigns, have proved to reduce violence. If our citizens are happy, why would anyone ever want to leave?

With research, we can understand violent groups, and with preventative measures we can reduce their recruitment efforts. However, that does not stop violent individuals already in Syria, Iraq and elsewhere. Can we stop these people without bombs? Yes. It is too late to remove the $1 billion worth of military equipment left in post-Hussein Iraq now being used by ISIS, but we can still tackle ISIS at their core. We can support our neighbouring countries in researching and shutting down any illegal trade routes ISIS use as their main source of funding. There are some things societies need to function and, love it or loathe it, a basic cash flow is one of them. Don’t you agree?

This is my final and most important point. If a broke and under-manned ISIS somehow continues to pose a threat, we can still protect UK citizens without using bombs. How? By funding our public services to the brim. A fully trained and funded police force can act quickly and efficiently to prevent violence. A medical team can save our lives if we are sick or wounded. A good teacher can provide us with a better education than any online extremist recruiter. Our public services look after us, teach us, and keep us safe – more so than any bomb can. And, at the end of the day that is what you want – to keep your people safe. (While we are speaking, you could do this very effectively in a number of other ways – please see these articles on funding junior doctors, improving our roads and funding essential charities – but I digress).

So, Mr Cameron, I hope you see that there is an alternative to fighting violence with violence. In fact, it is more than an alternative – it is our moral obligation. And, if responses to the Paris attacks are anything to judge by, I think that is is an alternative to violence that people want.

*Note: I think the term ´violent extremism should have been used instead of ´Islamism´

]]>https://thisissustainableme.wordpress.com/2015/12/02/an-alternative-to-bombing-syria/feed/0marthastokesA bajaji ride to rememberhttps://thisissustainableme.wordpress.com/2015/07/23/a-bajaji-ride-to-remember/
https://thisissustainableme.wordpress.com/2015/07/23/a-bajaji-ride-to-remember/#respondThu, 23 Jul 2015 12:36:05 +0000http://thisissustainableme.wordpress.com/2015/07/23/a-bajaji-ride-to-remember/Cambridge Development Initiative: Today was the second day I was not woken up at 6am by bleating goats – the coincidence of silent mornings and the end of Eid celebrations is one I’d prefer not to consider too closely. Instead, I meandered downstairs at a leisurely 7.10am for a breakfast of baked…]]>

For the last three weeks I have been volunteering in Tanzania with an organisation called CDI. I am working on the community engagement side of a sanitation project and, of course, working to make the project as socially and environmentally sustainable as possible. Here is my first blog post for CDI!

Today was the second day I was not woken up at 6am by bleating goats – the coincidence of silent mornings and the end of Eid celebrations is one I’d prefer not to consider too closely. Instead, I meandered downstairs at a leisurely 7.10am for a breakfast of baked bread laden with lime marmalade, followed by fresh fruit and litchi juice. The day started well.

This was a significant day for the Engineering team. Today, Rosie (project director) and I were to meet with the community members who lived by our proposed Simplified Sewerage System route in Vingunguti and present our project. Following a successful pilot project last summer, this year’s CDI Engineering team is planning to expand the simplified sewerage system introduced to Vingunguti’s informal settlements by the waste pond 12 months ago. In short, the simplified sewerage system provides a safe and affordable sanitation solution to those who…

]]>https://thisissustainableme.wordpress.com/2015/07/23/a-bajaji-ride-to-remember/feed/0Featured Image -- 107marthastokesAn Open Letter to David Cameronhttps://thisissustainableme.wordpress.com/2015/05/08/an-open-letter-to-david-cameron/
https://thisissustainableme.wordpress.com/2015/05/08/an-open-letter-to-david-cameron/#respondFri, 08 May 2015 13:32:02 +0000http://thisissustainableme.wordpress.com/2015/05/08/an-open-letter-to-david-cameron/Geo/Socio/Politico: Dear David Cameron, It has certainly been a turbulent year for politics. In fact, it is quite likely that I will never see a year like this again: last summer I voted in the Scottish Referendum and yesterday I voted in my first General Election. Today, morning of 8th…]]>

This morning I guest authored for Geo/Socio/Politico and wrote an open letter to David Cameron. Here is the link for all those who have nearly-but-not-quite had enough of politics in one lifetime:

It has certainly been a turbulent year for politics. In fact, it is quite likely that I will never see a year like this again: last summer I voted in the Scottish Referendum and yesterday I voted in my first General Election.

Today, morning of 8th May, the results are flooding in after sleepless nights of counting and waiting. It has just been announced that the Conservative Party have gained a slender majority.

I wish I could congratulate you but I can’t. I did not vote for the Conservative Party on the 7th May and, if truth be told, the thought of a Conservative Government wholly unsettles me.

Why? Perhaps it is because I grew up in post-Thatcher Scotland, or maybe because born a daughter to two social work parents? It could be that I attended a local comprehensive school where we had to organise a sponsored…

]]>https://thisissustainableme.wordpress.com/2015/05/08/an-open-letter-to-david-cameron/feed/0Featured Image -- 105marthastokes15 ways to be more sustainable in 2015https://thisissustainableme.wordpress.com/2015/01/18/15-ways-to-be-more-sustainable-in-2015/
https://thisissustainableme.wordpress.com/2015/01/18/15-ways-to-be-more-sustainable-in-2015/#respondSun, 18 Jan 2015 21:34:37 +0000http://thisissustainableme.wordpress.com/?p=68Run more, eat less, work harder. Every year we make New Year Resolutions and every year studies tell us why we fail them. Yet why, as the midnight bells strike a final goodbye to yester-year, do we promise ourselves that this is the year to make a resolution that lasts? We do it because we want to change.

And change we must do. With increasingly apocalyptic reports on climate one can be forgiven for wanting to draw the curtains and never read the news again. We feel helpless.

Yet we can make a difference. Even simple lifestyle alterations can reduce carbon footprint. So, New Year’s Resolution or not, here are 15 easy ways to become more sustainable in 2015.

………………………………………………………………………………………

1) Walk or cycle – It’s healthier. It’s better for the environment. It’s cheaper than the bus. With zero carbon emissions and a guilt-free reason to avoid the gym, you have no excuse not to. Plus, if you promised to do more exercise in 2015 you are already on a winning streak.

Walk or cycle – who could resist on a day like this?

2) Recycle – 60% of waste that ends up in landfill sites could be recycled. Just one recycled tin can could save enough energy to power a TV for 3 hours. If you are unsure whether an item can be recycled, check the label or visit recyclenow.com.

3) Use a whiteboard and pen – A small investment that will save paper and your pocket. White-boards are re-usable, unlike all those ‘to-do’ post-it notes plastering your fridge, thus saving your paper and money.

4) Replace meat with veg – This old student trick is used to cut spendings, but it is good for you and the planet too. Meat production is notorious for its devastating impact on the environment, beef being the worst offender. Simply replacing meat with veg can half your carbon footprint. Just like that. Still not inspired? Look here for a tasty list of meat-free dishes.

Low in carbon emissions, low in calories, high in delicious.

5) Buy locally sourced produce – Shopping at the local greengrocers, farmer’s market and butchers is a sure way to cut down your carbon footprint by reducing transport miles (both for you and your food). As well as supporting your local community, the produce will be cheaper, fresher and tastier. Bargain.

6) Charity shops – From the latest Delia Smith recipes to vintage finds, charity shops are a treasure trove of second hand goods. As well as re-using items that might otherwise have gone to waste, local donations involve little travel which is great for your carbon footprint. If this isn’t enough, you know that your money is going to a good cause.

7) Tinker with your toilet – This takes 20 minutes and saves the average person 2 gallons of water per flush, or 750 gallons per year. Wash out a 2L milk bottle and remove the label. Fill with water, add a few drops of bleach and several stones to weight it down. Screw the lid on and place the bottle in the cistern away from the flushing mechanism. Check occasionally to assure the bottle has not shifted.

Note to self: finish milk before tinkering with toilet.

8)Know your labels– Labels such as FSC and MSC tell us whether our product came from a sustainable source. Knowing what to look for helps consumers find environmentally friendly produce.

9) Lower your thermostat – a great excuse to keep wearing your favourite Christmas jumper. Switching your thermostat down by only one degree saves £75 and 310kg carbon dioxide per year on average.

10) Unplug that charger! – Smart devices take about two hours to charge yet thousands of Britons are guilty of leaving their devices plugged in over night. Overcharging wastes British households a staggering £134 million pounds per year, and the problem is increasing.

Unplug, save energy, save money. Simple.

11)Polish up and plan ahead– According to the AA, carefully planning trips and servicing your car regularly increases fuel efficiency, saving you 10% or more on fuel bills. Road trip anyone?

12) Sugar, or honey honey?– With increasing demand for sugar alternatives, some have tipped 2015 to be the hottest year for honey sales. So, why not also make it the year to reduce food miles? Swapping imported sugar for locally sourced honey is certainly a tasty way to reduce your carbon footprint.

13) Drink tap water– About 15 million plastic bottles are used per day in the UK alone, most of which are thrown away instead of recycled. Instead of buying a new bottle each day, re-use one and fill it with tap water. Healthier, cheaper, better for the environment.

Drink tap water. It’s good for you and for the planet.

14) Eat seasonally– By knowing what grows seasonally, you can take full advantage of local produce to produce tasty dishes. There is a reason for the saying “what grows together goes together”. Yet another nifty trick to decrease those damaging food miles.

15) Buy biodegradable bin liners– No matter how much we love to recycle, there will, unfortunately, be some waste that has to be thrown away. But, just as every cloud has a silver lining, at least every bin can have a biodegradable bin bag.

So there it is – a list of 15 ways to live more sustainably in 2015 and thereafter. Use it wisely. And remember, if your resolution has failed already, don’t fret. You can still help save the planet.

]]>https://thisissustainableme.wordpress.com/2015/01/18/15-ways-to-be-more-sustainable-in-2015/feed/0marthastokesWalk or cycle - who could resist on a day like this?Low in carbon emissions, low in calories, high in delicious. Note to self: remove milk before tinkering with toilet. Unplug, save money, save energy. Simple. Drink tap water. It's good for you and the planet. SOS: save our salmonhttps://thisissustainableme.wordpress.com/2014/10/15/sos-save-our-salmon/
https://thisissustainableme.wordpress.com/2014/10/15/sos-save-our-salmon/#commentsWed, 15 Oct 2014 19:24:58 +0000http://thisissustainableme.wordpress.com/?p=38

Wild salmon caught in river Glass

I caught my first wild salmon in river Glass, Scotland, at the beginning of October. Although only small, its strength was incredible. I to and fro-ed with the salmon, allowing the fishing line to slacken as the fish pulled away only to reel it back in. Eventually the salmon tired and we scooped its exhausted body into our small wooden boat using a net. A four pounder, I was told. We examined the speckled scales of the gasping fish – a young male – and then we let it go.

Salmon numbers are falling rapidly. Overfishing has been heralded as a major driver of this decline.The catch and release practice in Scotland means that every other salmon caught, starting with the first, is returned to the river to help conserve numbers. Some think that fishing for wild salmon should be banned completely.

However, recreational salmon fishing is a mere minnow of a problem compared with commercial fishing. The Marine Conservation Society’s (MCS)Sustainable Eating Guide warns against eating wild caught Atlantic Salmon at all as fish stocks have become so depleted due to unsustainable fishing practises. Today over 85% fish stocks are being pushed to the brink of collapse due to commercial overfishing.

As well as overfishing, wild salmon are hugely threatened by climate change and ocean acidification. Salmon start their lives in freshwater rivers before migrating to the sea. Most salmon travel to the sub-arctic where they feed on small fish, plankton and crustaceans for one or two years before returning to their spawning ground to breed. As sub-arctic ice melts, salmon are forced to travel further between their feeding and spawning grounds, meaning that salmon arrive to spawn exhausted. Many do not make it back.

Salmon species are important keystones in some of the richest ecosystems in the world. Without them important ecosystems would collapse and dependent species would die out. There would also be severe financial repercussions. Salmon fishing underpins many important economies which would suffer hugely with a decline in wild stocks. In Scotland alone the salmon industry is worth over £400m in exports.

However, we need not cross salmon off our menus just yet. Certain salmon stocks are managing better than others and so can be harvested sustainably. The MCS suggest trying wild caught pacific salmon with the MCS label or farmed Atlantic salmon which carry certifying labels such as those from the Soil Association or the RSPCA’s Freedom Food Scheme Freedom Food Scheme.

And if you feel like that is not enough to save our salmon you can always choose a salmon substitute fish such as mackerel from the EU and Norway or North-East Arctic haddock.

Whether it is releasing your salmon back into the river, keeping a keen eye out for a trusted label or making a dietary shift, there are simple but necessary steps we can all make to help the dwindling wild salmon populations bounce back to recovery.

]]>https://thisissustainableme.wordpress.com/2014/10/15/sos-save-our-salmon/feed/1marthastokesWild salmon caught in river GlassWe are in the midst of a poaching crisishttps://thisissustainableme.wordpress.com/2014/10/12/we-are-in-the-midst-of-a-poaching-crisis/
https://thisissustainableme.wordpress.com/2014/10/12/we-are-in-the-midst-of-a-poaching-crisis/#commentsSun, 12 Oct 2014 22:10:19 +0000http://thisissustainableme.wordpress.com/?p=30

But with humanitarian, religious and political tensions already causing anguish to world leaders, why should we pay attention to the deaths of African pachyderms? The answer to this comes not only from the intrinsic value we place on elephants and rhinos as living individuals but from the function they serve in our ecosystems.

Rhinos and elephants act as ‘selective lawnmowers‘, removing the most competitive grasses in the Savannah. This encourages a range of less competitive grasses to grow which increases the biodiversity richness of the region. Biodiversity is heralded as a provider of ecosystem services such as food, water, nutrient cycling and medicinal products. Without this biodiversity, ecosystem services that are relied on by millions of people will disappear.

As well as this there is mounting evidence illustrating the inexorable links between the illegal wildlife trade and other global crises.

Inter-governmental collaboration is essential. If success is to be achieved, transnational trade must be combated with transnational efforts. However, this is not easy. Borders go unchecked, trade routes metamorphose and lack of funding leaves governments and enforcement agencies struggling to keep up with the criminal syndicate groups they hope to dissolve.

We need to increase monitoring and law enforcement efforts. Elephant and rhino poaching levels are reaching record levels and are set to further increase.

We need to reduce demand for illegal products. Where there is a market for ivory products or rhino horn, suppliers will find ways to meet this demand. Reducing demand for these illegal products will by consequence lower the incentive to poach elephants and rhinos. On World Rhino Day WWF-Vietnam launched a campaign to this effect.

Most of all we need education. We need to educate buyers, communities and holiday makers which products to avoid and why. Poachers must instead be taught the value of endangered species and how to conserve them.

We are in the midst of a poaching crisis but we also have the capability to stop it. By collaborating, educating, co-operating perhaps we can haul these majestic species back from the precipice of extinction, not only saving them, but in the process, ourselves.